Who says migration is by merit at Delhi University?

While B Com (honours) students with high percentages failed to migrate to second year at Sri Venkateswara College (SVC), three others with relatively lower percentages were given admission, a reply to an RTI (a copy of which is with the HT) report has revealed.

Migration is a provision whereby students of first year can apply for admission to another college of DU in the second year. If vacant seats are available, colleges accept applicants who have a good academic record.

An RTI revealed that 48 students had applied for migration in September, 2011, but the top-scoring student with 77% marks in his first year was not allowed to migrate. And neither were the other 28 students who secured higher marks than 67% — the marks at which a student finally got admission. The other two who secured admission scored 62.36% and 62%.

What is even more absurd is that SVC already has more than 140 students in B Com second year, whereas the sanctioned strength is 92. The college did not have any vacant seats when it took the three students in.

University officials and experts maintained that this was not a one-off case. “Migration in all university colleges has become a sort of back-door entry, as no one scrutinises them. It is also unfair to lesser known colleges, which prepare students with good marks, who then migrates to a better college. The college then loses out on a potential topper,” said the principal of a top DU college.

The high powered committee for admissions — a committee of 16 DU principals that suggested reforms in admission — has also suggested that migration be done away with completely as it is discriminatory towards lesser-known colleges.

“Apart from this, everyone knows that these admissions can turn into back-door entries to prestigious colleges,” said a member of the committee.

SVC, however, maintained that it had not done anything wrong. “We usually give admission on the basis of merit, but there are no clear guidelines,” said Hemalata Reddy, principal, SVC.

A senior DU official, however, said, “When it is said that migration on the basis of marks will be allowed, it is implicit that merit will be the basis on which admission will be.”